Method of knitting and camming mechanism therefor

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A METHOD OF KNITTING WITH A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A FIRST BANK OF NEEDLES AND A SECOND BANK OF NEEDLES, WITH THE NEEDLES OF AT LEAST THE SECOND BANK BEING DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF SETS. A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE COURSES ARE KNIT WITH ONE OF THE SETS OF THE SECOND BANK, EACH COURSE BEING KNIT WITH A SET OF NEEDLES OF THE SECOND BANK DIFFERENT FROM THE SETS USED TO KNIT THE PRECEDING COURSE, AND IN EACH COURSE THE NEEDLES OF THE SECOND BANK ARE DELAYED IN THEIR KNITTING CYCLE AT A POSITION WHEREIN THE DELAYED NEEDLES HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK AT LEAST SUFFICIENTLY TO CLEAR THE COOPERATING NEEDLES OF THE FIRST BANK BUT AT A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED BACK SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE OLD LOOPS THEREON TO BE CAST OFF, SO THAT DURING THE DELAY THE LOOPS ON THE NEEDLES OF THE SECOND BANK REMAIN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CLOSED LATCH. THE DELAYED NEEDLES ARE PULLED IN TO CAST OFF THEIR STITCHES ABOUT WHEN THE NEEDLES USED IN THE NEXT COURSE REACH THEIR CLEARED POINT. THE INVENTION ALSO PROVIDES A CAMMING MECHANISM FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD.

Sept. 20, 1971 M. PHILIP 3.605.445

METHOD 0F KNITTING AND GAIIMING MECHANISH THEREFOR Filed Dec. 12, 1968 [.VVI'JMIUIL Make/5 Pfl/LIP ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oiiice 3,605,445 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,605,445 METHOD F KNITTING AND CAMMING MECHANISM THEREFOR Morris Philip, 2519 Grand Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10468 Filed Dec. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 783,189 Inf. Cl. D04b 9/00 U.S. Cl. 66-17 19 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a method of knitting with a circular knitting machine having a first bank of needles and a second bank of needles, with the needles of at least the second bank being divided into a plurality of sets. A plurality of successive courses are knit with one of the sets of the second bank, each course being knit with a set of needles of the second bank different from the set used to knit the preceding course, and in each course the needles of the second bank are delayed in their knitting cycle at a position wherein the delayed needles have been pulled back at least sufficiently to clear the cooperating needles of the rst bank but at a position where they have not been pulled back sufficiently for the old loops thereon to be cast off, so that during the delay the loops on the needles of the second bank remain on the outside o-f the closed latch. The delayed needles are pulled in to cast olf their stitches about when the needles used in the next course reach their cleared point. The invention also provides a camming mechanism for performing the method.

This invention is directed to a method of knitting and a camming mechanism therefor. More specically, the invention is directed to a method of knitting using a circular knitting machine having two banks of needles wherein a novel form of delayed timing is used, as well as to the camming mechanism for effecting this delayed timing.

The machines used in the present invention have two banks of needles with at least one of the banks of needles being divided into sets, each course being knit with a set of needles different from the preceding course. An example of such a machine is an interlock knitting machine. Although the invention is not li-mited to an interlock knitting machine, it will be described in connection therewith.

In an interlock knitting machine there are two banks of needles, cylinder and dial, and each bank is divided into two sets and the cams which operate the needles are similarly divided into two sets of cam sections for each bank. In one typical embodiment the needles of one set are called the short needles, both cylinder and dial, and the needles of the other set are called the long needles, both cylinder and dial. The cams which operate the cylinder needles are divided into two sets of cam sections, one set of cam sections operating the short cylinder needles and the other set of cam sections operating the long cylinder needles. Similarly, the cams which operate the dial needles are divided into two sets of cam sections, one set of cam sections operating the short dial needles and the other set of cam sections operating the long dial needles. The short dial needles are arranged in staggered relationship to the short cylinder needles so that, in effect, these needles alternate around the machine, and the long dial needles similarly alternate with respect to the long cylinder needles. Generally, the short dial needles are directly opposite the long cylinder needles and the long dial needles are directly opposite the short cylinder needles. One course is knit with the short dial needles cooperating with the short cylinder needles and the next course is knit with the long dial needles cooperating with the long cylinder needles, the needles being moved by their corresponding cam sections. The machine as just described is a standard type of interlock knitting machine.

The cams of an interlock machine can be arranged to knit with either synchronous timing or delayed timing. In synchronous timing the needles of both banks knit off or cast off, at about the same time. In delayed timing the needles of one bank, generally the dial, are delayed so that they knit ol significantly after the needles of the cylinder. The advantages of delayed timing are well known and need not be amplified herein. As Will be hereinafter described, the use of delayed timing necessitates the use of longer cam sections. Therefore, for machines of the same diameter and the same needle size and shape, a machine using delayed timing, because of the extra length of the cam sections, will be able to accommodate less cam sections and therefore less yarn feeds, than a machine using synchronous timing. It will be appreciated that for each pair of cam sections, one cylinder and one dial, there is one yarn feed, each such pair knitting one course ofthe fabric.

When delayed timing is used in a machine as just described, the short needles, for example, both cylinder and dial, are projected from their bed at the same time and the short cylinder needle goes through a normal cycle and pulls back to knit off its stitch. The short dial needle is delayed in a tuck position until the short cylinder needle knits off its stitch and returns to the edge of the cylinder at what is commonly known as the resting position. The delayed short dial needle is then drawn back to cast off its stitch. Until this short dial needle casts off its stitch the long needles which knit the next course cannot start their operation because the delayed short needle at the tuck position would interfere with the movement of the long cylinder needles. After the short dial needle is drawn back to cast off its stitch the long cylinder and dial needles for the next course start their operation and this time the long dial needle is delayed in the same manner as was the short dial needle of the previous course and this cycle is repeated from course to course. This need to hold the needles (cylinder) of one course at the resting position until the delayed dial needles of the previous course cast off their stitches results in lengthening the cam section by about 50% and thereby proportionately reduces the number of cam sections and yarn feed for a given diameter machine.

According to the present invention, the delayed timing is executed in a different manner, thereby enabling the use of a much shorter `cam section than is possible when using delayed timing as just described. Referring again by way of example to an interlock machine using short and long needles, cylinder and dial, with the delay on the dial needles, according to the present invention, the dial needles are not delayed 'at the tuck position. Instead, the short dial needles `are drawn further back to a position suciently to clear the back of the short cylinder needles, but not sufficiently back for the loops on the short dial needles to be cast off so that during the delay the old` loops on the short dial needles remain on the outside of the closed latch. The short dial needles are held in this position until about when the needles (long needles) knitting the next course reach their clearing point. The long needles used in the next course in both banks commence their knitting operation at any time after the short cylinder needles knitting the previous course have been pulled back at least sufficiently for their hooks to clear the short dial needles, for example, after the short cylinder needles have been pulled back until their tops are about flush with the edge of the cylinder. In this next course the long dial needles are delayed in the same manner as were the short dial needles in the previous course, and the cycle is repeated from course to course. It will be apparent, therefore, that since the dial needles are delayed at a position where they do not interfere with the operation of the cylinder needles of the next course, there is no need to hold the cylinder needles at the rest position during the delay. This renders it possible to use cam sections of about the same length as can be used with synchronous timing, but yet achieve the effect of delayed timing.

Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of knitting using a circular knitting machine having a first bank of needles and a second bank of needles opposed to said 'first bank, the needles of at least said second bank being divided into a plurality of sets, comprising the steps of knitting a plurality of successive courses, each course being knit with one of said sets of said second bank together with cooperating needles of said first bank, each course being knit with a set of needles of said second bank different from. the set used to knit the preceding course, and in each course the needles of the second bank being delayed in their knitting cycle at -a position wherein said needles have been pulled back at least just sufficiently to clear the cooperating needles of the first bank but at a position where they have not been pulled back sufficiently for the old loops thereon to be cast off, said loops on the needles of the second bank remaining on the outside of the closed needles latch during the delay, said delayed needles being pulled into cast off their stitches about when the needles used in the next course reach their clearing point. According to a preferred embodiment, the machine is a cylinder and dial interlock knitting machine, so that the knitting produced is interlock knitting.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a first needle bank, a first group of cam sections for operating the needles of said first bank, a second needle bank opposed to said first bank, a second group of cam sections for operating the needles of said second bank, the needles of at least said second bank being divided into a plurality of sets with said second group of cam sections being divided into a corresponding plurality of sets of calm sections, said groups of cams being arranged to knit a plurality of successive courses by moving needles of both banks in cooperation, each course being knit by one of the cam sections of said [first group and one of the cam sections of one of the sets of cam sections of said second group, said cam section of said second group moving needles of the corresponding set of needles of said second bank, each of said courses being knit with a set of needles of said second ban'k different from the set used to knit the preceding course; the improvement being in that said cam sections are so constructed and arranged that in each course the needles of the second bank are delayed in the knitting cycle in a position wherein said needles have been pulled back at least just sufficiently to clear the cooperating needles of the first bank but at a position where they have not fbeen pulled back sufiiciently for the old loops thereon to be cast off, said loops remaining on the outside of the closed needle latch during the delay, and so that said delayed needles are pulled in to cast off their stitches about when the needles used in the next course reach their clearing point. According to a preferred embodiment, the machine is a cylinder and dial interlock knitting machine, so that the knitting produced is interlock knitting.

'Ihese and other Iaspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top View of a portion of dial cams according to an embodiment of the invention, said view being taken looking down on the top of the cams as if the cams and cam support were transparent, so that the needles would lie beneath the cams.

FIG. 2 is a developed front View of a portion of cylinder cams according to an embodiment of the invention, said view being taken looking from the outside of the '4 machine inwardly as if the cams and cam support were transparent, so that the needles lie beneath the cams.

The invention will be described in connection with the illustrated embodiment and more particularly in connection with a circular dial and cylinder interlock knitting machine, wherein the needles are stationary and the cams rotate in a counterclockwise direction, although, as will be pointed out hereinafter, the invention is not limited to this specific type of machine. For example, the cams can move in a clockwise direction, or the cams can be stationary and the needles can rotate. Whether the needles rotate or the cams rotate is immaterial, since it is only necessary to have relative movement between the cams and the needles. It will therefore be understood, whenever reference is made hereinafter to cams moving, that this does not necessarily mean that the cams move, but only means that there is relative rotation between the cams and the needles. Furthermore, lin the illustrated embodiment the delayed timing is effected on the dial by way of illustration, although the delay can be effected on the cylinder equally as well. In a dial and cylinder interlock machine the dial bank of needles is divided into two sets of needles, generally long and short needles, and the cylinder bank of the needles is similarly divided into two sets of needles, generally long and short needles. The dial cams comprise two sets of cam sections, a set of short needle cam sections for operating the short dial needles, and a set of long needle cam sections for operatingI the long dial needles. The cylinder cams are similarly divided into a set of short needle cam sections for operating the short cylinder needles and a set of long needle cam sections for operating the long cylinder needles. As the cams rotate, in one course, a short cylinder needle cam section operates the set of short cylinder needles, while a short dial needle cam section operates the set of short dial needles in cooperation therewith, and in the next course the long needle cam sections of cylinder and dial operate the long needles of cylinder and dial, respectively, and so on for each course. Associated with the cam sections for each course is a yarn feed for supplying the yarn for that course. In a standard interlock machine the yarn may be taken up either by the cylinder needles or the dial .needles but when using delayed timing the yarn is taken up by the needles which are not delayed. Therefore, in a machine in which the dial needles are delayed, the yarn is taken up by the cylinder needles. Means other than short and long needles can be used for operating the sets of needles and their respective cams are well known in the art and the present invention is equally applicable to all type of means for operating the needles and their respective cams. However, for the sake of convenience, the exemplary embodiment will be described in connection with the short and long,l needles, but the invention is obviously not so limited. yThe illustrated embodiment 0perates and functions in the manner of the standard interlock machine as just described, the differences being in the construction of the cams and the timing of the movement of the needles.

Before describing the figures in detail, attention is directed to the more or less vertical dot-dash phantom lines running through FIGS. '1 and 2, such lines carrying lettered reference characters such as A1, B1, A2, B2, etc. These lines show the relationship between the various cams and, in effect, show precisely what point in each cam is functioning at a particular time or position on the machine.

First referring to FIG. 2, this shows a portion of the cylinder group of cam sections which operate the cylinder needles. This group is divided into two sets of cam sections 10 and 10', set `10 being the set of cam sections which operate or move the short cylinder needles, with 10 being the set of cam sections which operate the long cylinder needles. Set 10 defines cam track 12 in which are positioned the butts of the short cylinder needles, so that as set 10 rotates in the direction of arrow V11, the

butts of the short cylinder needles ride in the cam track 12 and are moved through their knitting positions. Set f comprises a plurality of cam elements fastened to the cam carrier 13 in such a manner as to dene the cam track 12. These elements are cover cams 14, idle cams 16, raising cams 18 and stitch cams 20. The interpretation of the illustration of cams such as shown in FIG. 2 is well known in the art. Imagining a short cylinder needle having its butt in cam track 12. As cam section set 10 rotates in the direction of arrow 11, the needle at the position shown by dotted line C1 is in what is normally called the resting or welt position. In this position the upper edge of the short cylinder needle is about flush with the upper edge of the cylinder and this needle has in its hook a loop formed in a previous course. As the needle moves from C1 to B1 the needle remains in the resting position and at B1 the cam starts moving the needle upwardly through the position where the latch on the needle is opened, through the position where the old loop slides back down the needle past the open latch, and to the clearing position indicated by about line D1. The needle then moves downwardly taking up the yarn from the yarn carrier in its hook for forming the new loop in the short cylinder needle, moves downwardly to place the yarn for the new dial loop in the hook of the short dial needle adjacent thereto, moves downwardly for its hook to clear the dial needle (that is, moves downwardly until the upper edge of the hook of the cylinder needle passes the bottom of the dial needle) and then continues downwardly to the cast off position about at L1. In the cast off position the needle has cast off the loop, has the new loop in its hook, and the upper edge of the needle is below the upper edge of the cylinder. The needle then moves upwardly to about A1, which is the resting position. From A1 to B2 this short cylinder needle remains at the resting position and at B2 it starts a new cycle and moves upwardly to D2, and then down to cast off, and then up to the rest position at A2. It will be appreciated that the needle at B2 is in the same position in its cycle as it was at B1, and therefore the distance from B1 to B2 represents the length of a complete cycle for a needle and the cam between B1 and B2 can be called a cam section. Therefore, as used in this application, the term cam-section will represent that portion of a cam which moves a needle through a complete cycle from starting point to starting point. It will be realized that a cycle can start at any particular point in the movement of the needle and end at a similar point, but, arbitrarily, and for the sake of convenience in this application, a cycle will be considered to start where the needle is at the resting position.

The set of cam sections 10' is identical to the set 10, set '10 being made of corresponding cam elements 14', 16', 18 and 20', which define cam track 12', set 10' is mounted on the same carrier 13 as set '.10, but operates the long cylinder needles and has its cam track 12' shifted relative to cam track 12, so that, whereas cam track 12 started its cycle at B1, cam track 12 starts its cycle at A1. Set 10 moves the long needles through the same cycles as did set 10, but offset therefrom. Starting at A1 the long cylinder needle moves upwardly to the clearing position about at C2. The needle then moves downwardly taking up the yarn from the yarn carrier for forming its new loop, moves downwardly to place the yarn for the new dial loop in the hook of the long dial needle adjacent thereto, moves downwardly for its hook to clear the dial needle, and then continues downwardly to the cast oif position at about G2. The needle then moves upwardly to about B2, which is the rest position, and remains at`rest until it starts its upward movement for a subsequent course at A2. A cam section, therefore, of set 10" would be the portion between lines A1 and A2. As the cams rotate, one course is knit with the short needles moving from B1 to B2 and the next course is knit with the long needles moving from A1 to A2, etc. It is noted that when a needle com- 6 pletes its course and comes to the resting position, for eX- ample, when a long needle reaches B1, at that time (B1) the needle for the next course, the short needle, begins its upward movement at B1 for the subsequent course.

The cam tracks for the cylinder as just described are more or less conventional cam tracks, and it is emphasized, when the delay is on the dial, that the operation of the cylinder needles and the structure of the cylinder cams according to the present invention may be conventional, and therefore it is understood that the invention is not limited to the cylinder camming of the type just described. When the delay is on the dial, the invention resides'in the movement of the dial needles and the structure of the dial cams, as well as, to a certain extent, in the relationship between the cylinder cams and dial cams. On the other hand, when the delay is on the cylinder, then, according to the invention, the dial cams may be conventional and the cylinder cams are modified.

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows the dial cams, this shows a portion of the dial group of cam sections which operate the ldial needles. In this figure the phantom line 22 indicates the edge of the dial and phantom line 24 indicates the edge of the cylinder. The dial group of cam sections is divided into two sets of cam sections 26 and 26 set 26 operating the short dial needles, with set 26 operating the long needles. Set 26 defines cam track 28 in which are positioned the butts of the short dial needles so that as set 26 rotates in the direction of arrow 27, the butts of the short dial needles ride in cam track 28 and the needles are moved through their knitting positions. Set 26 comprises a plurality of cam elements fastened to the cam carrier 27 in such a manner as to define cam track 28. These elements are needle raising cams (clearing cams) 30, cover cams 32 and stitch cams 34. The manner in which set 26 moves the short dial needles will now be described. As the set 26 of cam sections rotate in the direction of arrow 27, the needle at the position shown by line E1 is withdrawn into the dial, casting olf the loop thereon, while retaining in its hook the hoop formed in a previous course. The needle then moves outwardly to the rest position F1 where the outer edge of the hook of the needle is about flush with, or just outside, the edge of the dial. The needle remains at the rest position until about G1, where it starts its outward movement for the new course. It proceeds outwardly to a step 38, which may be called the latch opening position, and remains at the step 38 momentarily and proceeds to the clearing position at about J 1, where the old loop is now inwardly past the open latch. The needle now moves inwardly, and has placed into its hook the yarn for the new loop. The yarn is placed into the loop of the short dial needle by the adjacent short cylinder needle which had taken up the yarn from the yarn carrier. The short dial needle then proceeds inwardly until about L1. At this point the outer edge of the hook of the short dial needle has passed the back of the adjacent cylinder needle and has therefore cleared the cylinder needle. At L1 the latch of the short dial needle has closed and the old loop remains on the short dial needle on the closed latch and has not yet been cast oi. The dial needle remains at this position until M1. In other words, the short dial needle is delayed in its cycle between L1 and M1.

At M1 the needle is pulled inwardly to the casting off position at about E2, where the old loop which was on the outside of the closed latch is cast oil", the new loop remaining in the hook of the needle. The needle then moves outwardly to the resting position F2 where the needle is about flush with, or just outside, the dial and in position to start a new cycle at about G2. G1 to G2 represents a complete cycle of the short dial needle and therefore represents a cam section of the short needle dial cam set.

It is noted that when the short dial needle is at the delay between L1 and M1 it has been pulled inwardly sufficiently to clear its cooperating short cylinder needles and therefore has been pulled inwardly suiiiciently to clear the other cylinder needles. In this manner the short dial needle is delayed at a point Where it does not interfere with the operation of the cylinder needles of the next course and this is the crux f the invention. If reference is made to FIG. 2, it will be noted that at L1 the short cylinder needle has pulled back and is about to cast off and that the long cylinder needle, used in the next course, starts its upward movement between L1 and M1. The short dial needle terminates its delay, that is, starts casting off about when the long cylinder needle for the next course is reaching its clearing point. The delayed short dial needle can cast off just before or just after the time when the long cylinder needle for the next course reaches its clearing point.

Cam section set 26 for moving the long dial needles is constructed similarly to that of cam set 26, but is offset therefrom. Set 26 is made up of a plurality of cam elements fastened to cam carrier 27 in such a manner as to define cam track 28. These elements are needle raising cams (clearing cams) 30', cover cams 32 and stitch cams 34', which correspond to the short cam elements 30, 32 and 34, respectively, except that their shape has to be modified slightly to take into consideration the fact that cam section 26 defines a larger circumference than cam section set 26'. Set 26 moves the long dial needles in the same manner as Set 26 moved the short dial needles. Starting at I1, wherein the long dial needle has cast off its old loop and has a loop in its hook, the long needle moves to the next position at K1, remains at the rest position until L1, where it begins its cycle by moving outwardly to step 38', the latch opening position, remains at step 38 momentarily and proceeds to the clearing position at about E2, where the old loop is now inwardly past the open latch. The needle now moves inwardly and has placed into its hook the yarn for the new loop, the yarn having been placed there by the adjacent long cylinder needle which has taken up the yarn from the yarn carrier. The long dial needle then proceeds inwardly until about G2. At this point the outer edge of the hook of the long dial needle has passed the back of the cylinder needles and has therefore cleared the cylinder needles. At G2 the latch of the long dial needle has closed and the old loop remains on the long dial needle on the closed latch and has not yet been cast off. The dial needle remains at this position until H2, so that the period for delay in the case of the long needles is the distance between G2 and H2.

The long needle is pulled inwardly to the casting off position at I2, then to the rest position at K2 and begins a new cycle at L2. Therefore, a cam section of the long dial needle cams, which represents a complete cycle, is represented by the distance from L1 to L2. It is emphasized that the long dial needles move through the same cycle as the short dial needles, except that their respective cycles are offset. Furthermore, the comments made in connection with the short dial needle cam wherein the relationships of the various needles, cylinder and dial, were pointed out, apply equally as Well to the long dial needle cams. The long dial needles are delayed in the same manner as were the short dial needles, so that they do not interfere with the operation of the cylinder needles of the next course and this manner of delay, as pointed out previously, is the crux of the invention. It is noted that the short dial needles cast olf just about when the long dial needles reach their clearing points, and vice versa.

Referring to the steps 38 and 38' in the dial cams, these have been shown in the illustrated embodiment because they are generally used in dial cams for interlock machines but such steps are not necessary either for conventional machines or those of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the dial cams and cylinder cams rotate together around the machine. Although, in FIGS. 1 and 2, only portions of the cams are shown, it is understood that the cam sections as shown repeat one after the other around the machine, with the short needle cams knitting one course, the long needle cams knitting the next course, the short needle cams knitting the following course, and so on.

It will be appreciated from the previous description that according to the invention the dial needles are delayed at a position where the dial needles have been pulled back suiciently to clear the cylinder needles but are not pulled back sufliciently for the old loops to be cast off, so that the dial needles are delayed with the old loops still 0n the needles but on the outside of the closed latch. In this position, since the delayed dial needles have cleared the cylinder needles, they do not interfere with the movement of the cylinder needles of the next course. During the delay period of the dial needles, the cylinder and dial needles of the next course start their cycle. The needles of the next course can start their movement at any time after the delayed dial needles have been pulled back sufciently to clear the cylinder needles. Preferably, the cylinder needles for the new course start their upward movement just when the cylinder needles of the preceding course have cast off their stitches and have moved upward to the rest position as shown in the figures by the lines A and B. The delayed dial needles pull back to cast off their stitches about when, that is, just before or just after the needles, cylinder and dial, of the next course reach their clearing point.

The invention has been described in connection with an interlock machine having two sets of needles, dial and cylinder, but is not limited to interlock machines, nor is it limited to machines having the needle banks divided into two sets. For example, each bank can be divided into three or more sets (not shown) and the same principles as herein discussed will apply to such machines. It is only necessary that at least one bank, and this is the bank on which the delay takes place, be divided into a plurality of sets, at least two. Successive courses are knit with one set being used in each course, it being necessary that the set of the delayed bank which is used in one course be different from the set of the delayed bank used in the next course.

It is also pointed out that the bank of needles which is not delayed, the cylinder for example, can be constituted by only one set of needles so that all the needles of this one set knit in each course. Since all the cylinder needles knit in each of the courses, the cylinder needles must complete their cycle before the next course is begun. In such a modification (not shown) cam sets 10 and 10 of FIG. 2 would be combined in one set. In other words, for example, cam set 10 would be eliminated and cam set 10 would be modified by replacing the rest period such as shown between lines A1 and B2 with a cam section which moves the needles' through an entire cycle. Stated differently, that portion of cam set 10 which appears between lines A1 and B2 would be replaced with that portion of cam set 10 which appears between lines A1 and B2. In this modification, of course, a cam section, instead of being indicated by the distance shown in FIG. 2. from B1 to B2, would be represented by that portion of the cam between B1 and A1. With such a construction, as soon as the cam section of the cylinder for one course moves the cylinder needles to the cast off position and brings them up to the rest position, the next cam section immediately starts the needles moving upwardly for the next course. In such a modification, of course, all the cylinder needles would be offset from all the dial needles, so that no cylinder needle is ever directly opposite a dial needle.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the delay has been described as taking place on the dial needles, the invention can be used equally as well wherein the delay takes place on the cylinder needles with the dial needles having the conventional movement.

In the described embodiment, each course knits 1 x 1 plain rib. The invention is not limited to this one type of stitch but any other stitch can be used.

It will be appreciated that when a needle is being delayed, that needle is, in effect, at what may be called a dwell position, which is a position during which a knitting movement (a movement in a direction longitudinally of the needle) is substantially halted. In other words, at a dwell position the needle does not substantially project or retract. The portions of the cam tracks which effect such delay or dwell can be referred to as dwell portions so that, for example, the portion of cam track 28 of cam section 26 falling between lines L1 and M1 can be called a dwell portion and the portion of cam track 28 of cam section 26' falling between lines G2 and H2 can similarly be called a dwell portion. The portion of the cam track following the dwell portion is the casting off portion since it moves the delayed needle to the casting off position. For example, the portion of cam track 28 of cam section 26 falling between lines M1 and E2. and the portion of cam track 28' of cam section 26 falling between lines H2 and J2 are each casting off portions. The cam track of each cam section of each group also has an intermediate portion which is the portion extending from just after the resting position to about the clearing position. It is this portion which projects the needles to about the clearing position. The intermediate portion does not include the rest position but may include a step such as 38 in cam track 28 of cam section 26. For example, such an intermediate portion of cam track 12 is the portion extending from line B1 to about D1. In cam track 28 of cam section 26 such an intermediate portion would be the portion extending from line G1 to about J 1.

I claim:

-1. A method of knitting using a circular knitting machine having a first bank of needles and a second bank of needles opposed to said first bank, the needles of at least said second bank being divided into a plurality of sets, comprising the steps of knitting a plurality of successive courses, each course being knit with one of said sets of said second bank together with cooperating needles of said first bank, each course being knit with a set of needles of said second bank different from the set used to knit the preceding course, and in each course the needles of the second bank being delayed in their knitting cycle at a position wherein said needles have been pulled back at least just sufiiciently to clear the cooperating needles of the -first bank but at a position where they have not been pulled back sufficiently for the old loops thereon to be cast olf, said loops on the needles of the second bank remaining on the outside of the closed needle latch during the delay, said delayed needles being pulled back to cast off their stitches about when the needles used in the next course reach their clearing po-int.

2. A method of knitting according to claim 1, wherein, in each course, the needles of each bank commence their knitting cycles after the needles of the first bank used in the preceding course have been pulled back at least sufficiently to clear the needles of the second bank.

3. A method of knitting according to claim 2, wherein the needles of said first needle bank are divided into sets with each of said successive courses being knit with a set of needles of said first bank different from the set used to knit the preceding course.

4. A method of knitting according to claim 3, wherein each of said needle banks is divided into two sets.

5. A method of knitting according to claim 4, wherein said knitting is interlock knitting, and wherein alternating courses are interlock knit using one set of the needles of the first bank in cooperation with one set of the needles of the second bank and wherein the intervening courses are knit with the other set of each bank.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said circular knitting machine is a cylinder and dial machine, said first bank being the cylinder and said second bank being the dial, so that the needles in each course which are delayed are the dial needles.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein in each course the needles of the first bank commence their knitting cycles when the needles of the first bank used in the preceding course have cast off their stitches and have moved to the resting position.

8. A method of knitting using a circular knitting machine having a first bank of needles and a second bank of needles opposed to said first bank, the needles of at least said second bank being divided into a plurality of sets, comprising the steps of knitting a plurality of successive courses, each course being knit with one of said sets of said second bank together with cooperating needles of said first bank, each course being knit with a set of needles of said second bank different from the set used to knit the preceding course, and in each course the needles of the second bank being delayed in their knitting cycle at a position wherein said needles have been pulled back at least just sufficiently to clear the cooperating needles of the first bank but at a position where they have not been pulled back sufficiently for the old loops thereon to be cast off, said loops on the needles of the second bank remaining on the outside .of the closed needle latch during the delay.

9. A method of knitting according to claim 8, wherein said delayed needles are pulled back' to cast off their stitches before the needles used in the next course reach their clearing point.

10. In a circular knitting machine having a first needle bank, a first group of cam sections for operating the needles of said first bank, a second needle bank opposed to said first bank, a second group of cam sections for operating the needles of said second bank, the needles of at least said second Ibank being divided into a plurality of sets with said second group of cam sections being divided into a corresponding plurality of sets of cam sections, and means to rotate said cam sections relative to the needles to operate said needles, said groups of cam sections being arranged to knit a plurality of successive courses during said rotation by moving needles of both banks in cooperation, each course being knit by one of the cam sections of said first group and one of the cam sections of one of the sets of cam sections of said second group, said carn section of said second group moving needles of the corresponding set of needles of said second bank, each of said courses being knit with a set of needles of said second lbank different from the set used to knit the preceding course, each of said cam sections comprising a cam track extending from the needle resting position through the clearing position through the casting off position and then to said resting position, whereby said cam track moves needles through a knitting cycle: the improvement wherein said cam track of each cam section of said second group includes a dwell portion, said dwell portion being in that location in said cam track in which said cam track has pulled back its needles at least just sufficiently to clear the cooperating needles of said first bank but at a location wherein said cam track has not pulled back its needles sufficiently for the old loops thereon to be cast off, so that said old loops remain on the outside of the closed needle latches of the needles under control of said dwell portion.

11. A circular knitting machine according to claim 10, wherein said cam track of each cam section of said second group includes a casting off portion immediately after said dwell portion and wherein said cam track of each cam section of said first group and second group includes an intermediate portion extending at least from after said resting position to about said clearing position, said cam sections being so arranged that when the casting off portion of a cam section of said second group is moving its needles to cast off the old loops therefrom, the intermediate portion of the next cam section of each of the first and second groups is operating its needles of the next course.

12. A circular knitting machine according to claim 11, wherein said cam sections are so constructed and arranged that the casting off portion of a cam section 11 of said second group is operating its needles when said intermediate portion of the next cam section of each of the first and second groups lbrings its needles of the next course to about the clearing position.

13. A circular knitting machine according to claim 11, wherein said cam sections are so constructed and arranged that the casting oli portion of a cam section of said second group is operating its needles before said intermediate portion of the next cam section of each of the rst and second groups brings its needles of the next course to the clearing position.

14. A circular knitting machine according to claim 12, wherein said cam sections of both groups are so constructed and arranged that said intermediate portion of a cam section of each group for each course commences projecting its needles from said resting position after the preceding cam section of said iirst group retracted its needles at least sutliciently to clear the needles of the second bank.

15. A circular knitting machine according to claim 14, wherein the needles of said first bank are divided into a plurality of sets and wherein said first group of cam sections is divided into a corresponding plurality of sets of cam sections, each of said successive courses being knit with a set of needles of said first bank different from the set used to knit the preceding course.

16. A circular knitting machine according to claim 15, wherein each of said needle Ibanks is divided into two sets and each of said groups of cam sections is divided into two sets of cam sections.

17. A circular knitting machine according to claim 16, wherein said circular knitting machine is an interlock knitting machine and wheren the cams are arranged to lOV 12 knit alternating courses of interlock knitting using alternating sets of needles of each bank and alternating sets of cam sections from each group.

18. A circular knitting machine according to claim '17, wherein said circular knitting machine is a cylinder and dial machine, said first bank being the cylinder and said second bank being the dial. Y

19. A circular knitting machine according to claim 17, wherein said cam sections are constructed and arranged so that in each course the cam section of said first group starts the movement of the needles of the iirst needle bank when the needles of the irst needle bank used in the preceding course have cast oti their stitches and have moved to the resting position.

References Cited l UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,564 1914 Scott 66--38X 3,026,695 9/1962. Philip 66--38X 3,405,542 11/ 1968 Beckenstien 66-38l 3,456,460 7/ 1969 Mishcon 66-38 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,153,052 1957 France 66--19 OTHER R EFERENCES Paepke, H.: Fundamentals and Uses of Delayed and Synchronized Timing, Knitted Outerwear Times, May 8, 1967, vol. 36, No. 20, pp. 145 to 151.

RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner 

